A limited edition with a rare stamp of excellence celebrates the chronograph’s 55th anniversary

The TAG Heuer Carrera chronograph has been in the pole position of the motor-racing world for 55 years. The collection takes its name from the legendary week-long “Carrera Panamericana” road race: first held in Mexico during the 1950s, this thrilling competition was revived in 1988 as an annual rally for pre-1955 collectors’ vehicles. TAG Heuer is both the rally’s partner and its official timekeeper.

Anniversary edition with a rare certificate: TAG Heuer Carrera “Tête de Vipère” Chronograph Tourbillon ChronometerA cornerstone of the brand since 1963, the Heuer Carrera Chronograph has been seen on the wrists of several legendary drivers. This model embodies the heritage and the vision of TAG Heuer in the motorsport world. During the last Geneva International Motor Show, the Swiss watchmaker announced new partnerships with Aston Martin and Gulf Oil International, launching the TAG Heuer Carrera and TAG Heuer Formula 1 Aston Martin Special Editions, as well at the Monaco Gulf.

To celebrate the Carrera’s anniversary, TAG Heuer launches the TAG Heuer Carrera “Tête de Vipère” Chronograph Tourbillon Chronometer. It’s the first TAG Heuer chronograph to bear the “Tête de Vipère” stamp of excellence, which is awarded by Besançon Observatory on behalf of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures. Only 500 watches have received this highly exclusive certification since 2006. The TAG Heuer Carrera “Tête de Vipère” Chronograph Tourbillon Chronometer will be available in a limited edition of 155 watches as an allusion to the 55 years since the Heuer Carrera was created.

Hidden secret: the viper on the stamp in the latest TAG Heuer Carrera chronograph

For TAG Heuer, the chronograph is an example of the company’s advanced technology, high performance and exceptional manufacture expertise. It constitutes a “perfect addition to the brand’s range, enriching the design codes and DNA of TAG Heuer, avant-garde since 1860.”

Another novelty presented at Baselworld 2018: the TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre Heuer 02 is equipped with a GMT function this year. This is the first time that TAG Heuer has added this complication to its prestigious manufacture movement. The second time zone, which can be adjusted via the crown, is read using the lacquered red hand and the black-and-blue ceramic bezel, which has a 24-hour GMT scale. To ensure optimum legibility, the GMT hand has been ingeniously mounted in a secondary position — between the hour-hand and the minute-hand — enabling it to pass over the indexes and skim the GMT scale. As daring as it is refined, this model boldly demonstrates the prowess of the Swiss watch brand’s avant-garde technology.

To celebrate the anniversary of the Heuer Carrera, TAG Heuer has published a special-edition book entitled Ahead of its time. Recounting the highlights of this signature collection and the models that have sealed its legendary status, the book describes how the often-pioneering Heuer Carrera chronograph, which is now synonymous with the brand, became universally recognized as an icon. This 4,500-book edition is available in the brand’s boutiques and can be ordered from www.tagheuer.com in certain markets.

Discover more about the history of the Carrera on the occasion of its 55th birthday. Click here for an overview of the different decades.